Apparatus for increasing the efficiency of boiler-furnaces.



1. H. RICE.

APPARATUS FOR NCREASING THE EFFICIENCY 0F BOILER FURNACES. APPUCAHON min sEPT..1914.

JOHN H. RICE, 0F BGSION, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATS FOR INCREASING TRE EFFICIENCY 0F BOILER-FURNACES.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application led September 8, 1914. Serial No. 860,774.

T o all. whom it may concern Be it known that I, -JOHN H. Rien, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and` useful Improvements in Apparatus for Increasing the. Efficiency of Boiler-Furnaces, of which the following is a specificat1on.

This invention relates to a steam generating plant which includes a boiler and a casing or setting therefor, the boiler and setting forming a. more or less sinuous passage through which the products ot combastion pass from the furnace or fire box to a chimney or other outlet.

The chief object of the invention is to provide improved means for generating gas from oil by the heat of the products of coinbustion flowing through said passage, and so projecting the gas into the passage as to aiu the draft and cause secondary and practically complete combustion of thc uncon sumed products which have escaped from the fire box, so that fuel will be saved and objectionable escape of smoke prevented.

Other objects of the invention are to enable. existing steam generating plants to be readily equipped with such gas generating and projecting means, to provide means for conveniently inspecting the gas jet, to en` able a 'plurality of gas jets to be projected, if desired, and to enable compressed air to be supplied with the oil for the purpose of facilitating draft and secondary conbustion.

The invention is embodied in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of the rear wall of a boiler setting or casing equipped with apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a side view of a portion of the apparatus shown. by' Fig'l; Fig. 4 represents a top view of the portion shown by Fig. 3; Fig. 5 represents an end view of saidlportion.

The same reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all the views.

In the drawings, 12 represents a portion of a steam boiler here shown as of the fire tube type, 13 representing the firetubes. 14 represents a portion of the casing .or

setting of the boiler, this portion being a vertical wall separated from the rear head of the boiler by the usual up-take 15 through which the products of combustion pass from the furnace or fire box (not shown) through the usual horizontal passage 16 under the boiler, the said products passing over the bridge wall as usu'al and along the under side of the boiler to the 11p-take, where their direction is changed, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2.

The point indicated in the drawing where the change of direction takes place is usually known as ldie first turn in the passage formed by the boiler and setting for the passage of the products of combustion from the fire box to the chimney or other outlet. It is to be understood, however, that my invention hereinafter described is not limited to boilers and settings of the fire tube type, and may be applied to any steam generating plant including a boiler and a setting which forms with the boiler a passage more or less sinuous through which the products of combustion pass from the lire boX to an outlet.

The wall 11 is provided with an opening 1.7, which is preferably provided with a lining or bushing 18 which may be installed to support brick work removed in forming the opening.

In the opening 17 is placed an oil conducting and gas generating and delivering conduit preferably composed of a line of tubing and a gas delivering nozzle, said conduit being preferably adapted to bear loosely on the lower side of the opening 17 and provided at its outer end with means for detachable connection with a fixed oil supply conduit. In the embodiment of my invention here shown two separate nozzles and conduits communicating therewith are eniployed, butit will be understood that my invention may be embodied in an apparatus having but one conduit and nozzle.

The preferred form of the tubular conduit within the opening 17 is as next described.

19 represents an elongated tube portion extending practically from end to'end of the opening 17, 20 represents a helically coiled portion formed by bending the portion 19 as indicated, said coiled portion extending backwardly into the opening 17, and 21 represents a terminal portion preferably made in sections as indicated and suitably secured to an outlet nozzle 2 2. The portion 20 constitutes a superheating coil and is exposed to the heat in the up-take 15 and passage 1G. The nozzle 22 is preferably a fan-shaped casting` its outer end or mouth being,r elongated in one direction, as indicated by Figs. 1 and Oil supplied to the conduit is converted into gas while passing through the suj'ierheating coil 20,5the gas, preferably mixed with compressed air as hereinafter described, being projected into the passage formed by the boiler and setting. The outlet nozzle 22 is arranged, preferably by giving its deliveringr end portion an inclination, as represented by Figs. 2 and o, to project a jet 24 of gas obliquely into the said passage, and in approximately the direction taken by the products of combustion flowing through said passage. In stating that the gas jet is projected obliquely by the outlct, l mean that the path of the jet is not parallel with, but is inclined to, the path of the products of combustion, the inclination being such that the jet aids the draft and at the same time extends practically across the path of the products of combustion to prevent or reduce to the minimum the escape of unconsumed products. As shown by Fig. 2. the jet 2-1 is projected in an upwardly inclined direction, the outer portion of the nozzle 22 being correspond ingl)v inclined. The upward inclination of the jet gives it a direction approximately the same as that taken bv the products of combustion, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, so that the draft is aided, the jet being at the same time caused to extend practically across the path of the products of combustion and act thoroughly on said products.

The nozzle is preferably fan-shaped, as shown by Figs. 4 and 5, so that it projects a fanshaped jet of wide area into the-passage, the fan-shape of the jet enabling it to act effectively on the products of combustion.

lVhen two nozzles 22 are employed'they are connected by a yoke or cross-bar 25 and are arranged one above the other, the lower nozzle being preferably provided with a shoe 26 formed to rest on the lower side of the opening 17.

The outer end of the conduit portion 19 is ada ted to be detachably connected with a fixed) supply conduit portion 27 As here shown, the portion 19 has a bend 19a and the portion 27 a bend 27a, these bends being detachably connected by a union 28.

The opening 17 permits the jet from each nozzle 22 to be inspected from the outside. To permit such inspection, the `o\1t1,r end of theopening 17 is provided with a shutter preferably composed of two slidable sec'- Lions 29 movable in guides formed in a flange 30 on a frame 31, which is secured to the outer side of the wall 14. The conduit portionsl 2'1"*L extend through orifices `32 formed 1n the flange 30, the unions 28 being preferably located within said flange so that the main portion of each conduit with in the opening 17 may be readily removed by disconnecting the union 28. lVhen this is donc, the nozzles 22 and the conduit portions connected therewith may be readily removed from the opening 17, the shoe 26 bearing loosely on the lower side of said opening. The shutter 29 is of course closed when the apparatus is in operation' and prevents the admission of air through the opening 17 in sufficient quantity to affect the draft.

33 represents an oil tank, and 34 a tank for compressed air. The oil tank may be supplied with oil through a supply pipe 35, and the air tank being supplied with air through a supply pipe 36.. The tanks are connected by a pipe 37, so that a constant air pressure may be maintainedeon theloil in the tank The portion 27 of each snpply conduit is connected with the oil tank by a conduit or pipe line 38 and with the air tank by a conduit or pipe line 39, said conduits 38 and 39 being connected by a Y- piece 40 with the conduit portion 27. The conduit portions 38 and 39 are provided with globe valves 41 and needle valves 42, whereby the proportions and quantities of oil and air may be adjusted and regulated. Suitable check valves 43 are provided to prevent back pressure in the supply pipe.

A constant pressure of yarr is maintained in the tank 34 by any suitable means, the air supply bein uncontaminated and taken from any suita le outside location. j

lVhen coal is thrown upon a fire of incandescent carbon, the heat will volatilize the hydrocarbons present.` and these gases are immediately burned and by their heat bring the rest of the coal to a state of incandescence. During the burning of the h vdrocarbon gases the various combinations break down and if there is suflicient oxygen present the carbon unites with it to form carbon dioxid, and the hydrogen unites with it also to form water in a gaseous state. The action is as follows:

Now if a portion of the carbon does not at once meet with sullicient oxygen it is liable to cool, and if later it comes in contact with oxygen its temperature may be too low to allow a chemical union. It then passes off as smoke. By the time all of the hydrocarbons have been burned or driven off unconsumed the remainder of the coal has become incandescent. The carbon in it will then combine.\vith the oxygen of the air or with carbon dioxid which might be present. The union with carbon dioxid would be as follows: C+CO2=2C(). lt' plenty of oxygen is present the product will 'The evident conclusion is that be CO2. If there is an insufiicient'amount of oxygen the product will be carbon monoxid, CO. If however the CO and free C be brought intocontact with the oxygen of the air at a sufficiently high temperature they will both burn to CO2. This is exactly what my a paratus accomplishes, when air is mixed with the oil before combustion.

By the injection of a mixture of vaporized kerosene or fuel oil and compressed air into the smoke passage at the first turn a temperature of over made possible. Pure air is used containing no deteriorating products such as consumed gases. Therefore We have the two conditions necessary to complete the combustion of the carbon 'monoxid and the free carbon, namely: oxygen from the air in suflicient quantity and at the necessary temperature. secondary combustion has been made a certainty.

One pound ofcarbon in the coal burned to carbon monoxid yields 4400 B. T. U. and evaporates LL55 lbs. of water from and at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. apparatus I am enabled to complete this combustion to carbon dioxid, every pound of which yields 14,500 B. T. U. and evaporates 15 lbs. of water from and at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. By burning the free carl bon to carbon dioxid -I gain for every pound of carbonA in the coal Which has es'- caped as free carbon 14,500 B. T. U. A marked saving of coal is therefore effected. lVhen it is remembered that about 80% of the heating surface of a returntubular boiler iscontained in the tubes and heads, the result is obvious. Heat is added to the coldest part of the boiler. Naturally there will be a large increase in the evaporation per pound of coal or other fuel in the lire box, and since there is a secondary combustion attended with an enormous amount of ordinarily lost B. T. U. regained, the increase in evaporation will be accomplished with a great deal. less coal fired.

The tubes and back head are kept clean and their heat transference efficiency in creased.

Beingrinstalled in the. direction of the draft` there is a natural suction and increase of draft from 30% up.

My apparatus renders it unnecessary'to rush the fire at times of sudden and drastic demands for steam.

There is no deteriorating effect upon the tubes, because no liquefied oil touches them. Air when compressed is heated. If the initial temperature is 60 deg. F. the compressed air will' have a temperature of 175.8 deg. F. at 14.7 lbs. gage pressure, and at lbs. gage-pressure, our usual working pressure, it is about 410 deg. F. Therefore the oil is heated by are both heated bv the gases coming over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit is.

By the use of my this hot air andy they from the furnace while ther are passing through the superheating coils. The oil is therefore thoroughly vaporized when it passes from the burner.

The products of combustion from the furnace must pass throughthe gasviiame because of the location of the burner. A

I do not limit myself in all `cases to'the described provision and means for introducing compressed air with the liquid fuel, as.

fuel burner of general application and the combination of said. burner with a boiler, and the other, which I-call the second, including. the combination of a boiler with a furnace and a liquid fuel burner to cause secondary combustion of the products from the furnace.

I have elected to claim the second invention in this application, and the first in my prior application above specified.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a. boiler and a boiler setting, vthewhole forming a passage through which the products of vcombustion pass from a fire box to an outlet, said setting including a wall portion having an opening which communicates with said passage, of an oil conduit extending through said apen.- ing and having a delivery outlet arrangedv to projecta jet of gas obliquely into said passage in approximately the same direction ,as that taken by theproducts of combustion, to aid the draft and cause secondary combustion, said conduit including a super-heating coil communicating at one end with said outlet and exposed to heat in Said'passage, and means for supplying oilto the Aother end of said conduit.`

2. The combination with a boiler and a boiler setting, the whole forming a sinuous passage through which the products of combusti'on pass from a fire box to an outlet, said setting'including a wall portion having an opening lwhich communicates lwith a turn in said passage, of anA oil conduit extending through said opening and having ai delivery outlet arranged to 'deliver a jet of gas obliquely intothe passage at'said turn in approximately the same direction as that taken by the products of combustion, to facilitate the change of direction of saidproducts,'and

cause secondary combustion, said'condut 1- eludin'g afsuperlieating coil communicating at ,one end ii'itlisaid outlet and exposed to Y heat in said passage, and means for supply` fing' oil to the other'end ofsaid conduit.

3. The combination with; a fire-tube boilei` and a casing tlierefor ,forming with the boiler -an .uptake c'oniinui'iieating i'i'ith the receiving ends of there tubes, said casing havingV anu opening which communicates with said uptake, of a conduit ins-aid opening hai-'ing a delivery outlet for gas directed in an4 upii-'ardly inclined direction vinto said uptake toward said receiving ends toaiditlie draft, 'said conduit including a superheating 16 coil communicating at one end with said oi.it

letand exposed .to the heated products of combustion passing through said. uptake, and means for s said conclu 4. The Vcombination ivith 'aboiler and its communicates with-said pass-agganci a shut-- setting forming a `passage through. which the products of combustion. pass from the fire box to anoutlet,` said settting including a .Wall portion "ha'xingf'aii opening which `ter .adapted to 'elosetlie -outeiend of said opening, of an oil` eoi'id'iiit loe-ated in Yand- .supported"bythe`v bottoni of said'opening,

andhafiiiig means at-its outer end for detacha'ble connetioniiiith 'a fixed stipplycon# duit and' a gasoutlet. 'at its inn'eirf'endarranged topi? said passagers a exposed to heat in said passage.

` 5. Thevcoinbin'ation ii'ith;x a boiler and its Asetting forming ,a passage through which the vproilfucts of combustion passfroui the fire {box-,toen outlet, said setting includr'ng a wall pertionha-ving an opening whiclicoui-z miinicates with said passagqanda shutter at the outer endA of said opening, ot ai' oil conduitvlocate-d in and supported by the bottoni "ofnsaidopening-and having means at 'the outer end for detachable"connectiongwitli a fixed supply conduit and a 'fanshap ed outl nozzle at' its-inner end forined and -arranged K to 'project a. fan-shaped jet otjgas 'obliquelyf` in toA said passage in approximately the direction takenL by the products of combustion, to'aid the draft andcause secoiidary i liquely upplying oil to the other end Set i iirodiicts o takenby ,the proi'luctsfoceiiibiistigi., tcaid 35 f the'- Vdraft and [ca use secondary co'inb ustion1v A said `conduit.includ-ing a` superheating coil t a jetot gas obli Luelyint'o' vat the outer end of said opening, of au oil conduit located in and supported b vzthe bottoni of saidvopen'ing and having a delivery outlet arranged to project a jet' of gas ob-v Y into said passage in appi'oxiinatelvV the direction taken i u bastion, to aid the draft and cause secondary iiiigiafsiipersaid passage el! by tlieprodiicts of coinci'iinliustion, said conduit incl' heating coil exposed to heat-. `sa id jet being visible through said ope-ning, and a inoi'able Sli'iittei-ift"tlie` outer ei'id of the opening.' A`

" The combination i. ivitli'4 :if-boiler :uid its setting foiiiiin'g i passage through which the products of combustion pass fioin'tlie fire box to an outlet, said'setting i'ifcliiding a. wall portion vhaving an opening which cniniunicatesii'ith said passage, ci'. an foil Vconduit Alocated in and supported? y` the bottoni of said Olpeiiiing and having a deliveryoi'itletY arranged 1o projeeta jet o 'jas obliqiiely ifnto said passage in'appi'ox -uatelystlie direction taken by the pr" luct ofcoiiibiistion, to aid the draft and aus'e secondary cineonduit ,including -a super-heat;

jet being visible through 1sai'dffopening', 'ai

opening,` and', la ",ni fable shutter engaged- 8 .The coinbi-nat nf-fiii' ng f oi'inifiig" assu-gi'A i'ioiigli which the v L box. to an outlet, is

inutili Cates with said i passage, "of fan oil condiiit .iocated'in and"s upported bytlie bottoni Vo'fjjsaid opening 4and havinga delivery outletiairanged to project ajvetof-gasobliquely into saidv passage in approxiinat-ely1tlie di# igction taken bythe productsof coiribustion, to aid the draft and cause secondary coindng coil exposed to heat in said passage,said jet being visible through s `d'f"'o en'in'g,".a 4iframe-"surrounding the fouten en opening and having an outwardly projectof said g Hange, which is perforated 'to receive said conduit, and a shutter engaged with the outer portion of.. the Harige, the conduit being composedmf sections separably connect#` ed at-la'point adjacent-tothe flange to'l perniit the rerndia'l "oftlie 'pjortion of the conduit within the opening.- f

9. The combination 'with aI boiler and its setting forming a passage through which the products ofcombustion pass from the iireboxto an outlet, s aid setting including a.

age, said "u pas. vfrom the fire-` los lji'istion, said conduit including a superheatj wall portion having an opening which communicates with said passaggbf an oil conduit extending 'through said opening and having a delivering outlet arranged to project'a jet of gas obliqiiely into-said passage in approximately"the'direction taken by the products of combustion, to aid the draft and lum said conduit with a mixture oit oil and compressed air.

10. The combinationwith boiler and its settlng forming a passage through which the products of combustion pass from the fire box to an outlet, said setting including a wall portion having an opening Which communicates with said passage, of an ,oil conduit extending through said opening and having a delivering outlet arranged-to project a jetof gas Aobliquely into said passage in approximately the direction taken by the products of combustion, to aid the draft and cause secondary combustion, said conduit including a supcrheating c oil exposed toheat in said passage two independent reservoirs foroil and compressed air respectively, and

` converging supply conduits connected With the first mentioned conduit to supply a mixture of oil and compressed air thereto, and having means for regulating the relative Aproportions and quantities of oil and air sup plied.

11. The combination. with a boiler and a Ysetting forming a passage through which the products 'of combustion pass from a fire box to an outlet, a super-heating conduit extend,- ing through a Wall portionof the setting into said passage,y said 'conduit having an extended portion exposed to heat in said passage and an outlet arranged to project a jet of gas int-o said passage toaid 4the draft and cause secondary combustion, and means for supplying said conduit with a mixture .of oil Aand compressed air.

12. The combination with a boiler and aboiler setting, the whole forming a passage through which the products of combustion pass from a. fire box to an outlet, saidsetting including a wall portion having an opening which communicates With said passage, of an oil conduitextending` through said opening=and having a delivery outlet arranged to project a jet `of gas obliquely `into said passage in approximately the same direction as that taken by the products of combustion, to aidthe dra-'ft and cause secondary combustion, said conduit including a super-heating coil communicating at one end with said outlet and exposed to heat in said passage, and means for supplying oil to the other end of said conduit7 the conduit being providedl with a check valve between the source of oil supply and thesaid coil.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my A 

